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Tuesday December 4, 2012

Constitutional Convention Meets For First Time

Taoiseach Enda Kenny attending the new Constitutional Convention on Saturday (Photocall)

A convention, which is being asked to consider reforms to Ireland's constitution, met in Dublin for the first time on Saturday.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was "a truly significant opportunity" and a "significant, historic event in the political and democratic life of the country"

The convention is made up of 100 people - a chairman, 33 politicians and 66 ordinary citizens selected at random by a polling company.

They are being asked to look at eight specific issues including lowering the voting age from 18 to 17, reducing the presidential term of office from seven to five years, and giving emigrants the right to vote in presidential elections.

They will also discuss gay marriage, removing blasphemy from the constitution, increasing the participation of women in politics, and amending a clause in the constitution on the role of women in the home.

The first working session will take place in late January, and there are plans to stream the plenary sessions live on the internet.

The convention was a commitment made in the Programme for Government and stems from pledges made for political reform by both Fine Gael and Labour at the last election.

Some have criticized the convention for not being given the opportunity to discuss other issues of political reform, such as the planned abolition of the Seanad, and it has been labelled a focus group by some.

The establishment of the convention was delayed as the government found it difficult to find someone to chair it.

But eventually the task was taken on by the chief executive of the international charity, Concern, Tom Arnold.

The members of the public involved expressed a worry that they would be bombarded by lobbyists and journalists if their identities were made public, and requested anonymity.

But the National Union of Journalists, among others, said it would seriously hinder coverage of the convention, and it was important in order for the trust of the public to be established that there was full transparency.

At its first meeting on Saturday, members agreed to a compromise, whereby their names and the general area where they live would be made known, but not their exact addresses.

Tom Arnold said that ground rules for lobbying will be put in place and interest groups will be asked to comply with them.

He said he does not want citizen members of the convention to be subjected to undue pressure.

"Active citizens are essential for democracy and for the democratic process. Ultimately that democracy depends on the willingness of individuals to perform the duties of citizenship," said Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said the time had come to revisit the 1937 constitution.

"It reflected the aspirations for our country as they were in the 1930s which was a time when one church had a special place when women were second class citizens and homosexuality was a criminal offence, a time when Europe was at the brink of a second war of a generation."

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